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Overview

What is Forest Resources Management at WVU like?

Description

The Forest Resources Management (FRM) curriculum is a blend of scientific, technical and managerial knowledge professionals need to have in order to manage public or private forest resources. Our students have ample opportunity to gain first-hand field experience through the five-week summer field practice, along with field laboratories associated with many of the courses in the curriculum.

FRM majors learn to:

Manage public and private forested lands for economic, recreational and conservation purposes.

Inventory amount and location of standing timber, appraise the timber's worth, negotiate the purchase and draw up contracts for procurement.

Conserve wildlife habitats, creek beds, water quality and soil stability, and how best to comply with environmental regulations.

Next Steps

Areas of Emphasis

Tailor this major to your interests by taking courses in one of these areas:

Arboriculture and Urban Forestry

Fast Facts

What makes Forest Resources Management at WVU unique?

Academic

Accreditation

Outcomes

Facility

Financial Support

Go First

Other

Academic credit for summer internships.

Opportunity to work as an undergraduate teaching assistant.

Small-school environment with the resources of a large university. You’ll benefit from one-on-one faculty interactions and develop a close relationship with your faculty adviser.

Strong academic-industry linkages.

Students attend annual conferences of the Society of American Foresters (National and State), Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture and Appalachian Vegetation Management Association.

Professional Organizations

Careers

What can you do with this degree?

Our program has a very high job placement into industry and research programs. Upon graduation, students take professional positions as procurement foresters, timber buyers in the forest products industry, forest managers for private forestry consulting companies and landowners, as well as with state and federal land management agencies. Managerial work includes planning timber crop rotations; evaluating the economics of alternative forest management plans; and planning for integration of forest land for recreation, timber, watershed, wildlife and environmental protection. With experience and proven performance in these activities, professional foresters often advance to executive management positions in public forestry agencies or forest products industries.

In recent years a good number of our graduates have gone to work in the arboriculture profession, working with local and national tree care companies. While many graduates move on to work within the region, faculty utilize their alumni and industry contacts to assist students to locate job opportunities throughout the country.

Students who elect to continue for graduate studies often conduct research dealing with hydrology, silviculture, arboriculture, forest measurement and forest ecology both at WVU and with our colleagues at universities throughout the U.S.

Possible Careers

Wondering what you can do with a degree from WVU's Forest Resources Management major? Check out these ideas from WVU Career Services and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). A median salary is the midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.

Forest and Conservation Workers

Under supervision, perform manual labor necessary to develop, maintain, or protect areas such as forests, forested areas, woodlands, wetlands, and rangelands through such activities as raising and transporting seedlings; combating insects, pests, and diseases harmful to plant life; and building structures to control water, erosion, and leaching of soil. Includes forester aides, seedling pullers, and tree planters.
Possible job titles for this career include: Crew Leader.

Foresters

Manage public and private forested lands for economic, recreational, and conservation purposes. May inventory the type, amount, and location of standing timber, appraise the timber's worth, negotiate the purchase, and draw up contracts for procurement. May determine how to conserve wildlife habitats, creek beds, water quality, and soil stability, and how best to comply with environmental regulations. May devise plans for planting and growing new trees, monitor trees for healthy growth, and determine optimal harvesting schedules.
Possible job titles for this career include: Area Forester.

Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in forestry and conservation science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Possible job titles for this career include: Assistant Professor.

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.
Possible job titles for this career include: Environmental Program Manager.

Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers where technical or scientific knowledge is required in such areas as biology, engineering, chemistry, and electronics, normally obtained from at least 2 years of post-secondary education.
Possible job titles for this career include: Account Manager.

Tree Trimmers and Pruners

Using sophisticated climbing and rigging techniques, cut away dead or excess branches from trees or shrubs to maintain right-of-way for roads, sidewalks, or utilities, or to improve appearance, health, and value of tree. Prune or treat trees or shrubs using handsaws, hand pruners, clippers, and power pruners. Works off the ground in the tree canopy and may use truck-mounted lifts.
Possible job titles for this career include: Arborist.

Courses

What are the courses like in Forest Resources Management at WVU?

Major Map

For a program overview, learning goals and course descriptions, visit the course catalog.

Popular Courses

ENTO 412:Pest Management

An in-depth look at current problems and solutions in controlling insect pests in an environmentally compatible manner. Management techniques include cultural, mechanical, physical, biological, regulatory, and chemical practices. (Also listed as ENVP 412.)

FMAN 320:Arboriculture and Urban Trees

This course will discuss the biology and management (selection, installation, maintenance and preservation) of landscape trees. Students will learn how to prune, install, evaluate risk and preserve individual trees in the landscape.

FOR 205:Dendrology

Classification and silvical characteristics of North American forest trees.

FOR 206:Winter Dendrology

Field identification and classification of North American forest trees during leaf-off condition.

FOR 326:Remote Sensing of Environment

Measurement and interpretation of natural resources and environment from photography and radar, infrared, and microwave imagery.

Cost and Aid

How much does Forest Resources Management at WVU cost? And how can you save?

Tuition and Fees

Estimated rates for the 2018-19 academic year. Rates are subject to change. Anyone that is not a current West Virginia resident will be charged non-resident rates. That includes international students.

Ways to Save

Merit-based Scholarships

Incoming freshmen to the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design may qualify for merit-based scholarships based on GPA and SAT/ACT test score. No additional application is necessary. These scholarships are in addition to University scholarships.

Academic Common Market

Ohio Tuition Reciprocity

As the result of a special agreement, students from Ohio who are fully admitted to Forest Resources Management can enroll at WVU and pay in-state tuition rates. Students must be admitted to both the University and this major.

Transfer Articulation Agreements

To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU. In addition to guaranteed admission agreements Forest Resources Management has transfer articulation agreements with:

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What other options does WVU have?

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Where is WVU?

West Virginia University located in Morgantown, is located about 70 miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Close to D.C., Cleveland, and New York City, too. Fill in your address below to find out how close WVU is to you.